Hey. I wanted to tell you I’m sorry about this morning. I don’t know exactly what happened, but I didn’t mean to upset you. Text me back when you get a minute.
How the woman could think it was her fault was beyond him.
I’m hoping you’re busy and haven’t had time to text me back. That’s better than you ignoring me.
The next one came two hours later.
I guess I upset you. Again, I’m sorry. You think maybe we could just start over? To, like, yesterday.
Of all the days for his battery to die.
I’m not sure what more I can say. Especially if you refuse to talk to me. I won’t bother you anymore.
“I could never refuse you, Bailey,” Rafe mumbled. “And you damn sure aren’t a bother.”
And that was the problem.
With a sigh, he glanced at the clock. It was almost two in the morning. No way he could call her now, and since this conversation was far too important to hash out over text, he would have to wait until daylight.
He pulled up his voicemail screen and tapped to listen to the first one from Bailey. While she rambled, pretty much repeating everything she’d said in her texts, Rafe moved to the window and glanced out over the park.
When her first message ended, he pressed play on the second.
Hey, Rafe. I’d like to stay at the Double R tonight. Can you come get me?
Rafe glanced at the phone to see when the call came in. Almost an hour and a half ago.
“Shit.”
He heard a man’s voice coming from the phone’s speaker, so he put it to his ear.
You cheatin’ bitch. You fucking whore. I should’ve known.
Then Bailey’s voice sounded again:Thanks, Rafe. I’ll see you in a few minutes.
Rafe was about to disconnect the call but realized the voicemail was still going. Bailey hadn’t disconnected but her voice now came from a distance, as though she’d meant to.
For one, I’ve never cheated on you. And two, I’m not sleeping with anyone. I’m gonna stay at the B and B, where I’ll be movin’ in two weeks anyway.
Moving? If only I could get so damn lucky.
Rafe hated that little fucker even more than he had.
It’s true—
Rafe lowered the phone and stepped closer to the window, convinced he was seeing things. No way was Bailey dragging a suitcase down the sidewalk at two in the damn morning.
“What the fuck?”
Rather than wait for him, she’d walked.
Goddammit.
Setting his phone down so it could continue to charge, Rafe grabbed the water bottle and headed out the door. He followed the second-floor landing to the side of the building, then took the stairs down. He stepped out onto the main porch that ran in front of all the businesses at the base of the U and peered to his left.
“Bailey?”
As soon as he said her name, she stopped walking, spinning around with her hand over her chest.
